Russian Army to Add 180,000 Soldiers, 1 Year Ahead of Schedule

Russia has also said its forces have regained two villages in the Kursk region, where the Ukrainians launched a surprise incursion in August.

Russian soldiers march toward Red Square to attend a Victory Day military parade marking the 78th anniversary of the end of World War II, in Moscow on May 9, 2023, Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP Photo

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the Russian army to grow by 180,000 troops for a total force of 1.5 million soldiers.

The order, which was published in a decree on the Kremlin’s website, will take effect on Dec. 1 and appears to show Moscow speeding up its plans to increase the size of its military.